Establishing Friends In High Places

We all tend to forget that not so long ago, the civilized world was ruled by a monarchy. To attain a high position in society in those days, one needed to be a member of a close-knit cast of noblemen. The problem was that you were either born noble or you had acquired the title by killing hundreds of barbaric soldiers.

These days, we needn't kill anyone to make it to the top. The key to prestige is associating yourself with successful people so that things, in turn, can inevitably fall into place.

the old boy network

When you work closely with politicians, successful businessmen and decision-makers, it's fascinating to learn that they all seem to know one another. Most of the time, they act like locker room buddies; well this isn't too far from the truth. It's a known fact that private schools and prestigious universities are the breeding grounds of leaders. This is an elitist world and money opens the doors of the most posh schools to a select few.

If you are fortunate enough to have attended such a school, you certainly know what I am referring to. For example, the school of Eton College in England is frequented by princes and sons of Fortune 500 CEO's. The theory is simple; put a bunch of rich kids together and there's a good chance they will be the next CEO's of upcoming empires.

is university a social club?

When you start off your education at a reputable school, you normally end up attending a renowned university. The Ivy League in the United States, Oxford and Cambridge in England, as well as the ENA and Sorbonne in France are the Alma Mater of Nobel Prize winners, US presidents and famous artists. The opportunities to make friends in those universities are endless whether you rely on the dorms, fraternities, or sports activities to make their acquaintance. A social life is almost as important as the academic part of university. The fact that you got drunk with the future president of the United States is a valuable asset if you plan to lobby for the White House or write for the political section of The New York Times .

hang out with dad

If your parents know half of Manhattan, you should start attending their soires and submerge yourself into endless discussions and overpriced cigar smoke. These occasions may provide you with cool summer job offers in law offices and you never know, these big shot managers may also have cute and available daughters!

Being on good terms with your parents is always good since it furnishes you with power by association. Nothing is stronger than family — ask any Kennedy.

alternative networking

Even if you didn't attend a posh school or a well-known university, or your family doesn't run an empire, you don't have to be excluded from that old boy network. You will need, however, to use all your social skills to attain that favored position.

The central idea is to learn as much as you possibly can because information is ammunition.

Remember the names of people you meet. Ask them where they attended school, what they do in their leisure time, where they play golf or tennis, and other questions that can provide the two of you with common ground.

Frequent high-end restaurants. Perhaps you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but that doesn't insinuate that you're restricted from frequenting the restaurants where successful people eat. Attending the same sports clubs is also a good idea since those places exist mainly for the purpose of socializing — use them to your advantage.